Item-conveying device

Abstract

An item-conveying device ( 20 ) includes a plate assembly ( 30 ) having an arm portion ( 31 ) and a spatula portion ( 32 ) cantilevered therefrom. The spatula portion ( 32 ) has at least one gripping opening ( 36 ) and a fluid channel ( 37 ) extends from the arm portion ( 31 ) to the gripping opening(s) ( 36 ). Upon connection of the fluid channel ( 37 ) to a vacuum source, a suction will be produced at the gripping opening(s) ( 36 ) to hold an item against the spatula portion ( 32 ).

1 . An item-conveying device including a plate assembly that comprises:
 a plurality of thin plates adhered together to form an arm portion and a spatula portion cantilevered from the arm portion,   at least one gripping opening on an exposed item-adjacent surface of the spatula portion; and   a fluid channel extending from the arm portion to the gripping opening(s) whereby, upon connection of the fluid channel to a vacuum source, suction will be produced at the gripping opening(s) to hold an item against the spatula portion;   wherein the fluid channel is formed by a groove in a non-exposed face of at least one plate and an adjacent face of at least one neighboring plate.   
   
   
       2 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thin plates comprise an item-remote plate, an item-adjacent plate, and an intermediate plate therebetween, and wherein the fluid-channel-forming groove is formed in the intermediate plate. 
   
   
       3 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the fluid-channel-forming groove extends completely through the intermediate plate. 
   
   
       4 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the item-adjacent plate is a neighboring plate of the intermediate plate and its item-remote face forms a major wall of the fluid channel, and/or
 wherein the item-remote plate is a neighboring plate of the intermediate plate, and its item-adjacent face forms a major wall of the fluid channel.   
   
   
       5 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the item-adjacent plate comprises an aperture forming each gripping opening in the spatula portion. 
   
   
       6 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each plate has a spatula section and an arm section, and wherein the respective arm sections are aligned with each other and the respective spatula sections are aligned with each other. 
   
   
       7 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the spatula sections of at least some of the plates have the same plan shape and size, and/or
 wherein the arm sections of at least some of the plates have the same plan shape and size.   
   
   
       8 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plate assembly additionally comprises a port on an exposed surface of the arm portion, and wherein the fluid channel extends between the gripping opening(s) on the spatula portion and the port on the arm portion. 
   
   
       9 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plates each have a thickness of less than about 5 mm. 
   
   
       10 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plates has a thickness of less than about 1 mm. 
   
   
       11 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the plate assembly has a thickness of less than about 5 mm. 
   
   
       12 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plates is made from PCB material and has an electrical circuit printed thereon. 
   
   
       13 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a damage-detecting system that senses deflection of the spatula portion from the arm portion of the plate assembly. 
   
   
       14 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the damage-detecting system comprises a pressure sensor sensing an increase in pressure upon an increase of deflection of the spatula portion relative to the arm portion. 
   
   
       15 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the sensor is positioned between plates of the plate assembly. 
   
   
       16 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is positioned adjacent an item-adjacent surface of the plate assembly. 
   
   
       17 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 1 , and a vacuum source connected to the fluid channel whereby suction is produced at the gripping opening(s) to hold an item against the spatula portion. 
   
   
       18 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising a housing adapted for receipt of a fitting for connection to the vacuum source, the housing having an opening allowing communication between the fitting and the fluid channel in the plate assembly. 
   
   
       19 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the plate assembly has fastening holes in its arm portion, wherein the housing has fastening holes aligned therewith, and wherein fasteners extend through the aligned holes to attach the housing to the plate assembly. 
   
   
       20 . An item-conveying device as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising a bracket including fastening holes, and wherein at least some of the fasteners extend through these fastening holes to attach the bracket to the plate assembly.